image from oldfarmersalamanac.com
Image: Jupiter and Saturn are the giants of the summer night sky; if you have a telescope, it’s a great time to look for Saturn’s bright rings and Jupiter’s Great Red Spot and moons! Credit: NASA.
What a wonderful August weather we are having. Almost fall like, but I know it will change so enjoy while you can be outside if possible. With lower moisture in the air, our night skies will be clear so take time to look up and see what the night sky has to offer.
NIGHT SKY FOR AUGUST 2020
By Bob Berman
Welcome to the Almanac’s Sky Watch for August 2020. Plan ahead for the top stargazing sights of the month. Here are the highlights of the night sky for August!
SKY WATCH FOR AUGUST 2020
by Bob Berman, as featured in The 2020 Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Jupiter and Saturn continue to be visible all night long, just as they were in July. The two bright planets stand one-third of the way up the southern sky at midnight, and hover near each other for most of August. The viewing may be even better this month, because Jupiter and Saturn are higher up in the sky, well above any buildings or trees, and they can be seen earlier in the evening so need to stay up too late if you’re not a night owl.
Mars also rises in the evening between 10 and 11 P.M. in early August. The red planet shines in Pisces through dawn. The good news is that our neighboring planet has grown brighter this month, now shining as bright as a 1st-magnitude star (one of the sky’s brightest stars).
Meanwhile, before dawn, Venus dazzles extremely bright in Gemini—and not too low. Mercury shines much lower but at a very bright and easy magnitude –1 in the month’s first week.
Perseid Meteor Showers
The Perseid meteor shower peaks August 12 and 13. This is the most watched meteor shower of the year, and the shooting stars are best seen before midnight (exceptionally early)—before the Moon rises to create unwanted brightness.
Use the Moon as a Guide!
On the 1st, look for the Moon first! You’ll find the Moon dangles just below Jupiter, with Saturn to the left. They’ll stay near each other for several days.
On August 8, the Moon appears practically touching Mars, and the two will be near each other for several days. Look towards the East late in the evening. Or, look towards the South in the morning’s pre-dawn sky (when you’ll also see Venus in the eastern sky).
These next several evenings – August 7, 8 and 9, 2020 – look over your eastern horizon before going to bed, and you just might catch the waning gibbous moon and the red planet Mars. After this brilliant twosome rises, the moon and Mars will travel westward across the nighttime sky, until these two worlds reach their high point for the night at or near morning dawn.
The crescent Moon is below Venus on the 15th before sunup in the eastern skies. (Remember Venus is a “morning star” now.) Venus is easily the brightest planet in the hours before sunrise. It’s worth an early wake-up call!
At the end of the month, the Moon stands close to Jupiter on the 28th, a worthy conjunction. It hangs below Saturn on the 29th.
Summer Stargazing
The Summer Triangle still shines bright and high in the evening sky! Just look to the East and up! See our free star chart and have fun spotting the three bright stars of the Summer triangle!
Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net 641-794-3337 cell 641-903-9365
NIGHT SKY FOR AUGUST 2020
By Bob Berman
Welcome to the Almanac’s Sky Watch for August 2020. Plan ahead for the top stargazing sights of the month. Here are the highlights of the night sky for August!
SKY WATCH FOR AUGUST 2020
by Bob Berman, as featured in The 2020 Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Jupiter and Saturn continue to be visible all night long, just as they were in July. The two bright planets stand one-third of the way up the southern sky at midnight, and hover near each other for most of August. The viewing may be even better this month, because Jupiter and Saturn are higher up in the sky, well above any buildings or trees, and they can be seen earlier in the evening so need to stay up too late if you’re not a night owl.
Mars also rises in the evening between 10 and 11 P.M. in early August. The red planet shines in Pisces through dawn. The good news is that our neighboring planet has grown brighter this month, now shining as bright as a 1st-magnitude star (one of the sky’s brightest stars).
Meanwhile, before dawn, Venus dazzles extremely bright in Gemini—and not too low. Mercury shines much lower but at a very bright and easy magnitude –1 in the month’s first week.
Perseid Meteor Showers
The Perseid meteor shower peaks August 12 and 13. This is the most watched meteor shower of the year, and the shooting stars are best seen before midnight (exceptionally early)—before the Moon rises to create unwanted brightness.
Use the Moon as a Guide!
On the 1st, look for the Moon first! You’ll find the Moon dangles just below Jupiter, with Saturn to the left. They’ll stay near each other for several days.
On August 8, the Moon appears practically touching Mars, and the two will be near each other for several days. Look towards the East late in the evening. Or, look towards the South in the morning’s pre-dawn sky (when you’ll also see Venus in the eastern sky).
These next several evenings – August 7, 8 and 9, 2020 – look over your eastern horizon before going to bed, and you just might catch the waning gibbous moon and the red planet Mars. After this brilliant twosome rises, the moon and Mars will travel westward across the nighttime sky, until these two worlds reach their high point for the night at or near morning dawn.
The crescent Moon is below Venus on the 15th before sunup in the eastern skies. (Remember Venus is a “morning star” now.) Venus is easily the brightest planet in the hours before sunrise. It’s worth an early wake-up call!
At the end of the month, the Moon stands close to Jupiter on the 28th, a worthy conjunction. It hangs below Saturn on the 29th.
Summer Stargazing
The Summer Triangle still shines bright and high in the evening sky! Just look to the East and up! See our free star chart and have fun spotting the three bright stars of the Summer triangle!
Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net 641-794-3337 cell 641-903-9365
